SPECIMEN: Stool

CONTAINER: Stool transport bottles (Para Pak C&S), GN Broth or Rectal Swab
Note: Buffered Glycerol Saline is unacceptable as a transport medium. The use of rectal swabs (Bacterial Culturettes) should be limited to patients with active disease, infants and children from whom feces may be difficult to obtain.
 

COLLECTION: The specimen of choice is the diarrheal stool collected during the acute stage of the disease. Keep the stool specimen cool, do not incubate or refrigerate. Portions containing blood or mucus usually contain the highest number of pathogens. 

TRANSPORT CONDITIONS: Room Temperature (25±5°C): 4 days (Preserved stool)

Refrigerated (5±3°C): Not recommended

Frozen (-15±5°C): Unacceptable

CIDT Screens: 7 days